If you want to believe Kobe needs to do that because most of his teammates stink, I'll laugh in your denial-ridden face.

Finally, if you want to think that Dwight Howard's decision to re-sign with the Lakers this summer is already in the bag and that he loves playing with Kobe Bryant, you have a rude awakening coming to you.

And I'm sure, in Howard's mind, Nash's unselfishness theoretically provided enough of a buffer for him to tolerate being on a team with a guy like Kobe.

If not, he could always leave.

Look, if there's a common theme to everything I'm saying, it's this: Kobe needs the game of basketball way too much.

We all have heard about his renowned work ethic.

The man could be nothing short of playing on crutches and he'd still lace them up.

He barks at his teammates like an overbearing parent, criticizing them both on and off the court.

Hey Gasol, thanks for the two rings, but, just between you and I, and the rest of the United States of America, could you put on those big boy pants? I think they're on sale at the Gap, actually.

Here's my question, though.

For years, we have commended Kobe for his work ethic, his toughness and his willingness to be the bad guy because we believe he did all of that so that the Lakers have the best chance of winning.

Yet if he's willing to go so far and his end goal is really more about winning than his legacy, then why wouldn't he make the simple adjustment of shooting less when stats have proven the Lakers' win percentage is dramatically better?

You know why.

It's because it really is all about his legacy.

And all I can say about that is that if his legacy isn't primarily intertwined with winning, then he seriously needs to adjust his hands-on relationship with the game of basketball from "married" to "friends with benefits."

It will help the Lakers win more.

It will boost the morale of the team to know that the star player doesn't have any ulterior motives beyond the team.

It will make Dwight Howard want to stay in L.A.

Most importantly, it will allow Kobe to regain ownership of his soul in a city that's been known to use fame and adulation in order to enslave its "heroes" in the fickle realm of image at the sacrifice of being true to themselves.

And that's a sacrifice Kobe Bryant should never be encouraged, much less applauded, to make.